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CD: CHARLIE HORTON - The Bourbon Street 3/4 Blues

The Bourbon Street 3/4 Blues - The Zydeco
Stomp - Mr. Right Now - The Sounds of Leaving - Thinkin' Bout You Again -
The Gypsy - A Honky Tonk Love Affair - Still On My Mind - Blues On The
Run - Life's Too Short To Dance With Ugly Women - Nothing Compounds The
Blues Like The Rain

My experiences listening to new music is
always an interesting one. I'm located in the bayous of Louisiana on my
way to California, and an opportunity arose to 'better' my Wi-Fi
internet connection at the campground I'm in. That led to meeting a guy
named Charlie Horton (no relation to Johnny) who not only takes care of
the Wi-Fi but is also a successful author (mostly romantic-mystery love
affairs), and also a songwriter of note. First song out of the chute
is a remarkable 'story song' about a kind of Mr. Bojangles guy, only
this time it's a Bourbon Street Cowboy. It's a heart toucher, right off
the bat. Like nearly all really good songwriters, Charlie is not a
very good salesman of his works, but he definitely knows how to write
good story songs. He drifts between good traditional country to an
interesting zydeco style. He did a lot of the recording backing music
in Nashville, but I like the 'mix' that he did himself on his own
computer. I really like the harmonica work on "Mr. Right Now" which is a
direct connect to blues with a great traditional country touch. I also
really like the way Charlie has incorporated a very country style chord
arrangement and then utilizing outside influences to change it just
enough to make it really interesting. This is very apparent in
"Thinkin' Bout You Again." A little Jimmy Buffet 'style' appears on
'The Gypsy' making it fun to listen to, and a little Johnny Cash 'style'
appears on "Still On My Mind" making the 'experience' truly valid.
This might be my 'pick' on this session. It's a love story gone wrong,
and how true is that in the millions of country songs about the same
topic. All of these very original songs are experiences Charlie Horton
has experienced. I find this kind of 'writing' the most interesting.
There are many 'hackers' in Nashville today who write exactly what the
'boss' says to write, and nearly all of that turns out exactly as it was
meant to turn out.... badly. For me the 'real' songwriter is the one
who writes what he pleases, from real life, from experiences, from
influences directly affecting his/her lifestyle and life. That's what
Charlie Horton is putting down on tape with words he knows only too
well. The day I listened to this CD it began to rain like crazy in
southwest Louisiana. Had to wade through eight or nine inches of water
just to get to the bathroom. Nothing quite like 'Nothing Compounds the
Blues Like The Rain" which is a very different 'rain' experience than it
is up in Iowa, or for instance the desert outside of Tucson. Good
going Charlie, off this one goes to the Rural Roots Music Commission.
They are going to be surprised to hear such interesting music, still
retaining the 'honesty' of early country music coming out of Louisiana.